Water sled

ABSTRACT

A light weight unsinkable hull is towed behind a power boat. The hull is made of aluminum or glass fibre and contains floatation compartments filled with styrofoam. Side fin assemblies give stability and the keel can also be moulded on the underside. A steering wheel and rudder assembly gives greater flexibility to directional changes.

United States Patent [1 1 Orchowski [4 1 Sept. 17, 1974 WATER SLED [76] Inventor: Richard Orchowski, 30 Bibeau Bay,

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada 22 Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 297,974

[52] US. Cl. 9/6, 114/126 [51] Int. Cl B63b 5/00 [58] Field of Search 9/6, 310 B, 310 R; 114/235 WS, 66.5, 67

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,910,708 11/1959 Albright 9/310 B 3,063,069 11/1962 Brummer 3,082,443 3/1963 Kimura 9/310 B Anderson 9/310 R X Kcnmuir 9/31'0 B Primary ExaminerAlbert J. Makay Assistant ExaminerDonald W. Underwood Attorney, Agent, or FirmCeci1 C. Kent & Associates [57] ABSTRACT A light weight unsinkable hull is towed behind a power boat. The hull is made of aluminum or glass fibre and contains floatation compartment filled with Styrofoam. Side fin assemblies give stability and the A keel can also be moulded on the underside. A steering wheel and rudder assembly gives greater flexibility to directional changes.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PAIENTEB SE? 1 1 m4 WATER SLED BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices adapted to be towed behind a power boat.

Many people are unable to water ski and thus miss the excitement and pleasure associated with the sport. Flat boards are sometimes towed behind power boats wherein the rider lies flat upon the board but these are not too satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes all of these disadvantages but enables a rider to enjoy the thrills and pleasures associated with water skiing without the attendant skills and risks normally associated with water skiing.

The principal object and essence of the invention is to provide a light weight boat-like hull which can be towed behind a power boat yet which is practically unsinkable and enables a rider to enjoy this form of sport.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which may provided with side stabilizers and a keel thus giving additional stability.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which can be fitted with a steering wheel and rudder combination so that the hull can be steered when being pulled behind a power boat thus enabling same to cross the wash thus adding to the thrills encountered by the rider.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other or further purposes, advantages or novel features as may become apparent from consideration of this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of the inventive concept which is comprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the means, method, process, product, construction, composition, arrangement of parts, or new use of any of the foregoing, herein exemplified in one or more specific embodiments of such concept, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a section substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation showing one side stabilizer in cross section and the keel, this view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character illustrates the boat-like hull which may be approximately 4% to 5 ft. long. It is preferably made from glass fibre impregnated with resin thus enabling a light weight hull to be formed with relatively smooth exterior surface. The cross sectional configuration on the hull is arcuate as shown by reference character 11 in FIG. 2 and longitudinally extending floatation compartments 12 are formed one upon each side, being defined by the sloping side walls 13 of the hull, sloping inner walls 14 thereof and the portion 15 of the arcuately curved hull 11 as clearly shown in FIG. 2, the walls 13 and 15 thus bulging outwardly as shown in FIG. 2. These floatation compartments are preferably filled with styrofoam l6 and extend one upon each side of the hull and from adjacent the front end towards the rear end thereof.

A planar floor panel 17 spans the hull at the base thereof between adjacent the lower edges 18 of the floatation compartments 12.

The front portion or nose portion 19 of the hull curves upwardly as indicated at 20 to form a partial enclosure 21 and prevent spray or water entering the cockpit area designated by reference character 22.

A ring 23 is secured to the underside of the nose portion by which means the hull may be attached to a power boat by means of a rope or the like (not illustrated).

A pair of side stabilizers 24 are formed one upon each side of the hull and upon the outer surface thereof. These stabilizers are substantially horizontal and the cross sectional area increases from zero at the front end 25 thereof to a maximum cross section adjacent the rear end of the hull. This cross section is triangular as shown by reference character 26 in FIG. 2 and includes a downwardly and slightly outwardly curving wall 27 and a substantially horizontal under surface 28. These are preferably moulded integrally with the hull and are made of similar materials filled with styrofoam also to assist in floatation of the hull.

A keel 29 is provided on the underside of the hull centrally thereof and once again the cross sectional dimensions of this keel increases from zero at point 30 adjacent the front end of the hull to a triangular configuration as shown in FIG. 2 adjacent the rear end of the hull. Once again this is moulded integrally with the hull shell 11 and is filled with styrofoam.

The provision of the side stabilizers and the keel gives considerable stability to the hull or sled as it is being towed through the water.

If desired a conventional steering wheel 31 may be provided to operate a conventional rudder 32 journalled upon vertical pivot pin 33 at the rear of the hull. This gives considerable control over the directional characteristics when the sled is being towed behind a boat so that the wake of the boat may be crisscrossed by the rider in the sled.

The extreme light weight and unsinkable characteristics of the sled makes same relatively easy to operate and give the thrills of water skiing without the attendant difficulties and dangers normally associated with water skiing.

Various modifications may be constructed or performed within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Therefore what has been set forth is intended to illustrate such concept and is not for the purpose of limiting protection to any herein particularly described embodiment thereof.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A water sled adapted to be towed, comprising in combination a boat-like hull, a floatation compartment extending the length of the hull, one on each side thereof, each said floatation compartment bulging outwardly from the hull, a planar floor panel extending between the lower sides of said floatation compartments, and a nose portion formed on the front end of said hull, substantially horizontally situated side stabilizer fins formed one on each side of the hull extending outwardly from the outer surface thereof beneath the said bulge of the floatation compartment on its respective side of the hull, said fins gradually increasing in cross sectional dimensions from zero to a substantially triangular configuration adjacent the rear end of said hull, the upper surface of the fins located below the level of the bulge in the floatation compartment on its side of the hull and the underside face of said fins lying subrial. 

1. A water sled adapted to be towed, comprising in combination a boat-like hull, a floatation compartment extending the length of the hull, one on each side thereof, each said floatation compartment bulging outwardly from the hull, a planar floor panel extending between the lower sides of said floatation compartments, and a nose portion formed on the front end of said hull, substantially horizontally situated side stabilizer fins formed one on each side of the hull extending outwardly from the outer surface thereof beneath the said bulge of the floatation compartment on its respective side of the hull, said fins gradually increasing in cross sectional dimensions from zero to a substantially triangular configuration adjacent the rear end of said hull, the upper surface of the fins located below the level of the bulge in the floatation compartment on its side of the hull and the underside face of said fins lying substantially horizontal and being concavely curved transversely, and a keel formed on the underside of said hull, said keeL gradually increasing in cross sectional dimensions from zero at the front end thereof at substantially the front end of the hull to a substantially triangular configuration adjacent the rear end of said hull.
 2. A water sled according to claim 1 including a rudder and a steering wheel operatively connected to the rudder.
 3. A water sled according to claim 1, said hull and said fins being made of a resin and a glass fiber material. 